Leadership Team
Meet The Team
The leadership team for the Soul Music Hall of Fame & Museum is a varied and diverse group of leaders, innovators, and visionaries dedicated to the preservation of soul music.
Laneay L. London, MSW
President & CEO
Laneay L. London, MSW, is the visionary President and CEO of the newly established Soul Music Hall of Fame and Museum. As a founding member of the Soul Music Preservation Group, Laneay has dedicated her leadership to preserving soul music's rich history and cultural significance. Her deep passion for this genre and extensive experience in nonprofit leadership have been instrumental in creating an institution that honors the legends of soul music and provides a space to educate future generations.
With over 20 years in leadership roles across various nonprofit sectors, Laneay brings a wealth of experience in organizational development and community engagement. Her dedication to the mission of preserving and celebrating soul music is at the heart of her work. Under her guidance, the Soul Music Hall of Fame and Museum aims to serve as a beacon for cultural preservation and an educational resource that highlights the contributions of soul music to global culture.
Laneay's commitment to this project ensures that the museum will become a vital platform for honoring the past, present, and future of soul music, building a bridge between the music’s origins and its continuing influence today.
Doug Davis
Secretary/Visionary
A native of Philadelphia and raised in the Washington D.C. area, Doug began his broadcasting career after his sophomore year at The Central State University. After graduating, he joined Cox Radio’s WHIO-TV/FM/AM in Dayton as an A.M. News Anchor and Assistant Assignment Editor. Three years later, he landed his first full-time Urban radio role at WJMZ-FM in Greenville, rising through every programming position to become one of the youngest Program Directors in the industry.
Doug went on to lead multiple stations at Entercom and Cumulus Radio before joining the acclaimed Michael Baisden Show in 2016 as Program Director and Director of Production. Today, as an Anchor and Reporter for the Black Information Network, Doug continues to inspire and inform audiences nationwide.
Throughout his career, Doug has impacted countless people—mentoring professionals, shaping media content, and telling stories that matter. For him, broadcasting is a calling rooted in purpose, not popularity.
Ed Rucker
Advisory Board Member
Ed Rucker has spent over 40 years mastering the art and business of music, blending performance, production, and mentorship into a dynamic career. Trained at the Peabody Conservatory in classical guitar and certified in sound engineering, he contributed to The Whatnot’s hit Help Is on the Way, deepening his passion for both the creative and technical sides of music.
As a guitarist, Ed has performed with legends like Rick James, Shirley Caesar, and Vashawn Mitchell. His career spans roles as a producer, songwriter, and Executive Operations Director at Jasmine Records, collaborating with industry greats like Dove Award-winning producer Patrick Henderson.
Beyond the studio, Ed has guided artists such as rapper C.O.M.P (Def Jam) and Grammy nominee Omar Sarif (Groove Stu) as a business consultant. He recently launched his own independent album, showcasing his skills as a producer, songwriter, and arranger.
A bestselling author, certified chaplain, and international speaker, Ed continues to inspire through music and education, earning multiple degrees, including an MBA and Doctorate of Theology by 2025. Now, he looks forward to advancing the mission of the Soul Music Hall of Fame and Museum, preserving the legacy of soul music for future generations.
Steven Rhim
Advisory Board Member
Steven Rhim is a pioneering force in the modern music industry, known for launching innovative marketing strategies and groundbreaking projects. Early in his career, he founded the nation’s first Black Record Pool in the 1970s, representing DJs across five southeastern states, and later created the first double-cover regional music magazine featuring artists like TLC, Outkast, and Goodie Mob.
Recognized by The Atlanta Constitution as “The Man That’s Makin’ It Happen,” Steven played a major role in developing Atlanta’s music market and supporting the historic “Jack The Rapper” conferences. His later ventures include producing the Sojourner Truth tribute performed at the U.S. Capitol and helping launch BKS1 Radio, which reached over two million monthly listeners.
A 2022 inductee into the National Black Radio Hall of Fame, Steven now serves as President of its East Coast Chapter and continues to champion initiatives honoring Black excellence in music and media.
William “Nana King” Konadu
Advisory Board Member
William O. A. Konadu is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Chairman of
Wilkon
Media Group Inc. A visionary leader and multifaceted entrepreneur, he brings
decades of experience in music production, performance, and technology innovation.
Internationally recognized under the professional name
Nana
King
, Mr. Konadu
achieved global su
ccess with the chart
-
topping album
Champion
, recorded in Ghana,
and has collaborated with prominent artists including Jay
-Z, Akon, Ex-Doe, and Samini.
A Los Angeles native and self-taught musician, Mr. Konadu demonstrated technical
ingenuity early in his career by building recording studios and mastering multiple
instruments. In 2024, he expanded his creative and business portfolio with the launch
of
Splassher.com, a social networking and multimedia entertainment platform designed
to foster digital engagement and artistic collaboration.
Carl Wayne Gilliard
Advisory Board Member
Georgia State Representative Carl Wayne Scott Gilliard was born in Savannah Georgia. Representative Gilliard
was raised in the Chatham County Schools where he attended Alfred Ely Beach High School.
He later attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta Georgia and attended New Generation
School of Seminary where he earned a Doctrine Divinity. But it was an Atlanta Georgia at Morris
Brown College where he met his mentor for life the Reverend Dr. Hosea Williams. While working
with Reverend William he had an opportunity at a young age to work with national leadership
with such individuals as Reverend Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, NBA Hall of
Famer Walt Bellamy, former wrestler Thunderbolt Patterson and the late Mrs. Coretta Scott
King.
Dennis Schultz
Advisory Board Member
Dennis Schultz is the former Executive Director of the Blacks In Technology Foundation, an organization that boasts the largest network for Black technology professionals with over 80 chapters in 20 countries. Dennis has over 25 years of experience in tech serving in a variety of roles including, enterprise sales, business development, customer success, and consulting. Dennis’ experience includes time at tech’s most respected brands, Microsoft, Dropbox, Gartner, Samsung, Dell, Lenovo, Rackspace Technology, VERITAS Software, APC, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to name a few. As an entrepreneur, Dennis has started and consulted multiple businesses and is currently co-owner and COO of CBD pain management brand Rx Sports.